Electronic device and electronic device terminal cover

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes: a casing having an opening that houses a connection terminal inside; and a terminal cover that seals the opening such that the connection terminal is not exposed. The terminal cover includes a lid that seals the opening and a fixing part that fixes the terminal cover to the casing. The lid includes a protrusion and a cushion member, the cushion member being mounted around the protrusion and having a surface lower than a surface of the protrusion. The cushion member seals the opening by being in close contact with a member provided around the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/914,707, filed Jun. 29, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/951,451, filed Apr. 12,2018 and now U.S. Pat. No. 10,743,431, issued Aug. 11, 2020, which is acontinuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2016/003473, filedJul. 27, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device terminal coverhaving waterproof and dust-proof properties and an electronic deviceincluding the terminal cover.

2. Description of the Related Art

PTL 1 discloses a waterproof terminal cover that seals and closes anopening in which a connection terminal of a mobile terminal is housed.The waterproof terminal cover in PTL 1 includes a seal part, a mainbody, and an extension hook. The seal part is made of an elastic member.The seal part includes a stopper having a projected shape and pressedinto the opening to hermetically close the opening, and a flange thatabuts on a peripheral edge of the opening. The main body is made of amaterial having higher rigidity than the material of the seal part, andis integrally molded with the seal part. The main body constitutes anappearance by covering the seal part. The extension hook is integrallyextended from the main body, and is locked by a front side cabinet toprevent the main body from falling out.

According to the waterproof terminal cover in PTL 1, the seal part ismade of the elastic member, and includes the stopper having theprojected shape and pressed into the opening to hermetically close theopening, and the flange that abuts on the peripheral edge of theopening. The main body is made of the material having higher rigiditythan the material of the seal part, and constitutes the appearance. Theseal part is integrally molded with the main body. This realizes thewaterproof terminal cover easily manufactured with a simpleconfiguration and having an enhanced waterproof property.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-137849

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device that reducesdeterioration in waterproof and dust-proof performance of a terminalcover.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an electronic device.The electronic device includes: a casing having an opening that houses aconnection terminal inside; and a terminal cover that seals the openingsuch that the connection terminal is not exposed. The terminal coverincludes a lid that seals the opening and a fixing part that fixes theterminal cover to the casing. The lid includes a protrusion and acushion member, the cushion member being mounted around the protrusion,and having a surface lower than a surface of the protrusion. The cushionmember seals the opening by being in close contact with a memberprovided around the opening.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal cover thatcovers a connection terminal of an electronic device such that theconnection terminal is not exposed. The terminal cover includes a lidthat seals an opening that houses the connection terminal, the openingbeing formed in the electronic device, and a fixing part that fixes theterminal cover to the electronic device. The lid includes a protrusionand a cushion member, the cushion member being mounted around theprotrusion, and having a surface lower than a surface of the protrusion.The cushion member seals the opening by being in close contact with amember provided around the opening.

According to the present disclosure, the cushion member provided in theterminal cover can enhance airtightness when the cover is closed, andcan secure waterproof and dust-proof properties. Further, the protrusionprovided in the terminal cover can reduce contact between the cushionmember provided in the terminal cover and a power supply plug or thelike during insertion/extraction of the power supply plug or the like.Accordingly, damage to the cushion member can be reduced. As a result,airtightness, that is, waterproof and dust-proof performance, of theterminal cover can be kept longer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the information processing device in astate in which a second unit is closed with respect to a first unit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region near a terminal cover of aconnection terminal for a power supply plug;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which an insertion port for a powersupply plug is exposed while the terminal cover is opened;

FIG. 5A is a view showing an entire configuration of the terminal cover;

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the terminal cover taken along line 5B-5Bin FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the information processing device in astate in which the terminal cover is closed;

FIG. 7 is a view explaining a state when the power supply plug isinserted in/extracted from the insertion port for the power supply plug;and

FIG. 8 is a view explaining a state when the power supply plug isinserted in/extracted from the insertion port for the power supply plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the drawings as appropriate. However, detailed descriptionbeyond necessity may be omitted. For example, detailed description of amatter that has been already known well or overlapping description ofsubstantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoidunnecessary redundancy of the following description and to facilitateunderstanding by those skilled in the art.

Note that the inventors of the present disclosure provide the attacheddrawings and the following description for those skilled in the art tofully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit thesubject matter as described in the appended claims by these drawings anddescription.

First Exemplary Embodiment [1-1. Entire Configuration]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Theinformation processing device serves as an example of an electronicdevice including a terminal cover.

As shown in FIG. 1, information processing device 100 includes firstunit 101 and second unit 102. Second unit 102 is detachable from firstunit 101. In a case where second unit 102 is attached to first unit 101,information processing device 100 can be utilized as a notebook typecomputer. Further, second unit 102 can be utilized alone as a tablettype computer. In this way, information processing device 100 is aso-called detachable type computer.

Second unit 102 alone has a function as the tablet type computer. Secondunit 102 includes display 121. Display 121 is configured, for example,with a liquid crystal display device, and is mounted on one principalsurface of second casing 120. Display 121 may be configured with anotherdisplay device, such as an organic EL device. Display 121 is providedwith a touch panel disposed on the liquid crystal display device andcapable of receiving user's touch operation. In order to realize thefunction as the computer, second unit 102 incorporates a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a volatile storage (RAM), a nonvolatile storage(ROM, SSD, or the like), a battery, and the like. The nonvolatilestorage (ROM, SSD, or the like) stores an operating system (OS), variousapplication programs, various data, and the like. The central processingunit (CPU) executes arithmetic processing by reading the OS, theapplication programs, and the various data, thereby realizing variousfunctions.

First unit 101 includes first casing 110, holder 130, and hinge 140.First casing 110 is formed of metal, such as magnesium alloy, or resin.First unit 101 includes an input part through which the user performsinput operation on the second unit. As the input part, first casing 110is provided with keyboard 111, touch pad 112, operation buttons 113, andthe like.

Holder 130 is electrically or mechanically connected with first unit101. Holder 130 attaches second unit 102 by housing a part of secondunit 102. When second unit 102 is attached, holder 130 electricallyconnects first unit 101 with second unit 102.

Hinge 140 couples holder 130 (i.e., second unit 102) and first unit 101such that holder 130 can rotate with respect to first unit 101.

A connector (not shown) connected with a connector (not shown) of thesecond unit is provided within holder 130. Further, wiring forexchanging various signals or electric power between holder 130 andfirst unit 101 is passed through an inside of hinge 140. Various signalsand electric power can be given and received between first unit 101 andsecond unit 102 via these connectors and wiring.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of information processing device 100 in astate in which second unit 102 is closed with respect to first unit 101.Connection terminals for connecting a power supply plug, an externaldevice, a memory card, and the like are provided on a side surface offirst unit 101. The respective connection terminals are provided withterminal covers 10, 61 to 64 such that the connection terminals are notexposed when the connection terminals are not used. For example,terminal cover 10 is provided for the connection terminal that connectsa terminal of the power supply plug configured to supply power from apower supply adapter. Further, terminal cover 61 is provided for theconnection terminal for the memory card (an insertion port for thememory card). Further, terminal covers 62, 63, 64 are provided to coveran HDMI (registered trademark, the same applies hereinafter) terminal, aUSB terminal, and a display terminal, respectively.

In the same way as first unit 101, second unit 102 is also provided witha connection terminal for the memory card, an earphone/microphoneconnection terminal, the HDMI terminal, the USB terminal, and the like.A waterproof and dust-proof terminal cover is provided for each of theterminals.

[1-2. Terminal Cover of Connection Terminal for Power Supply Plug]

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region near terminal cover 10 thatcovers the connection terminal for the power supply plug. It should benoted that FIG. 3 shows a state in which second unit 102 is detachedfrom holder 130. In FIG. 3, terminal cover 10 is closed such that theconnection terminal for the power supply plug is not exposed. Whenterminal cover 10 is closed, terminal cover 10 seals an insertion portfor a power supply plug such that terminal cover 10 can fully exhibitwaterproof and dust-proof performance. Terminal cover 10 is constitutedof two members 41, 42. Member 42 is mounted on member 41 so as to beslidable on member 41. Moreover, terminal cover 10 can be locked bysliding member 42 to a rear side of first unit 101 (details aredescribed below).

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which terminal cover 10 is openedand insertion port 23 (an opening) for the power supply plug is exposed.Insertion port 23 (the opening) for the power supply plug is provided infirst casing 110, and the connection terminal for the power supply plugis housed in an interior of insertion port 23. The state shown in FIG. 4is a state in which the connection terminal for the power supply plug isalso exposed. Rib 24 is provided in a region around insertion port 23for the power supply plug in first casing 110.

FIG. 5A is a view showing a configuration of terminal cover 10. FIG. 5Bis a sectional view of lid 11 taken along line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A.

Terminal cover 10 includes lid 11, fixing part 13, and coupling part 12.Lid 11 seals insertion port 23 for the power supply plug. Fixing part 13fixes terminal cover 10 to the casing of first unit 101. Coupling part12 couples lid 11 to fixing part 13. Lid 11, coupling part 12, andfixing part 13 are integrally formed of a resin material havingelasticity.

Coupling part 12 functions as a hinge. Fixing part 13 has opening 16 ina center. Terminal cover 10 is fixed to casing 110 of first unit 101 bybeing fastened with screw 21 via this opening 16.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, lid 11 has protrusion 15 in a center of aprincipal surface opposite to insertion port 23 for the power supplyplug. Cushion member 25 is mounted around protrusion 15. An outsidediameter of protrusion 15 is smaller than an inner diameter of insertionport 23. Protrusion 15 is housed in insertion port 23 in a state inwhich lid 11 is completely closed. Cushion member 25 is formed of amaterial having elasticity, such as urethane resin or rubber. Protrusion15 is formed such that a surface of protrusion 15 is higher than asurface of cushion member 25. Protrusion 15 is formed of a resinmaterial or the like harder than the material forming cushion member 25.The protrusion 15 includes multiple recessed spaces 27 arranged in a 2×2array and separated by substantially orthogonal walls.

Lid 11 has an area to an extent that at least whole insertion port 23for the power supply plug can be covered. When lid 11 is completelyclosed to first unit 101, cushion member 25 of lid 11 is in closecontact with rib 24 provided around insertion port 23 for the powersupply plug. Accordingly, insertion port 23 is sealed. With thisconfiguration, waterproof and dust-proof properties of insertion port 23are secured.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross section near lid 11 in informationprocessing device 100 (a cross section cut along a surface parallel to aprincipal surface of first unit 101) in a state in which lid 11 isclosed with respect to first unit 101. Terminal cover 10 includes twomembers; member 41 and member 42 disposed outside of member 41. Member41 is a member in which lid 11, coupling part 12, and fixing part 13 areintegrally formed. Member 42 has projection 19 at a tip, and is mountedon member 41 so as to be slidable on member 41. By sliding member 42 tothe rear side of first unit 101 in a state in which terminal cover 10 isclosed, projection 19 is inserted in housing part 51 provided withinfirst unit 101. With this configuration, lid 11 is fixed (locked) tofirst unit 101. At this time, cushion member 25 of lid 11 is in closecontact with rib 24 provided around insertion port 23 for the powersupply plug. With this configuration, insertion port 23 for the powersupply plug (that is, an internal space of first unit 101 that housesthe connection terminal connected with the power supply plug) is sealed,and waterproof and dust-proof properties are secured.

In terminal cover 10 configured as above, protrusion 15 can reducedamage to cushion member 25 accompanied with insertion/extraction of thepower supply plug. This damage reduction is described below withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views explaining a state when power supply plug 31 isinserted in/extracted from insertion port 23 for the power supply plugof first unit 101 while terminal cover 10 is opened. When power supplyplug 31 is inserted/extracted, protrusion 15 of lid 11 of terminal cover10 abuts on terminal 33 of power supply plug 31. As a result, contactbetween cushion member 25 of terminal cover 10 and power supply plug 31is reduced during insertion/extraction of power supply plug 31. Hence,abrasion or damage of cushion member 25 due to the contact with powersupply plug 31 during the insertion/extraction of power supply plug 31can be reduced, and airtightness (that is, waterproof and dust-proofperformance) by cushion member 25 can be kept long.

As shown in FIG. 5A, it is preferable that a shape of protrusion 15provided inside terminal cover 10 be a shape having no corners (roundedshape). This is because, when power supply plug 31 is rotated in a statein which the power supply plug is inserted in insertion port 23,catching of power supply plug 31 on protrusion 15 can be reduced.Further, in an example shown in FIG. 5A, a contour shape of protrusion15 is not a circle, but is a shape in which an upper part (a part) of acircle is cut. This is to facilitate positioning of cushion member 25when cushion member 25 is mounted.

[1-3. Effects Etc.]

As described above, information processing device 100 of the presentexemplary embodiment includes first casing 110 and terminal cover 10.Terminal cover 10 seals insertion port 23 (an example of the opening)such that the terminal connected to terminal 33 of power supply plug 31is not exposed. Terminal cover 10 includes lid 11 that seals insertionport 23 and fixing part 13 that fixes terminal cover 10 to casing 110.Lid 11 includes protrusion 15 and cushion member 25. Cushion member 25is mounted around protrusion 15, and has the surface lower than thesurface of the protrusion. In other words, protrusion 15 is formed suchthat its surface protrudes more than the surface of cushion member 25.Cushion member 25 is in close contact with rib 24 provided aroundinsertion port 23, thereby sealing insertion port 23.

With this configuration, cushion member 25 can enhance airtightness whenthe cover is closed, and can secure waterproof and dust-proofproperties. Simultaneously, when power supply plug 31 is insertedin/extracted from insertion port 23 for the power supply plug, terminal33 of the power supply plug comes into contact with protrusion 15 ofterminal cover 10. Accordingly, terminal 33 of power supply plug 31 canbe prevented from coming into contact with cushion member 25. With thisconfiguration, abrasion or damage of the cushion member accompanied withthe insertion/extraction of the power supply plug can be reduced, anddeterioration in waterproof and dust-proof properties of terminal cover10 can be reduced.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

As above, the first exemplary embodiment is described as an illustrationof a technique disclosed in the present application. However, thetechnique in the present disclosure is not limited to this firstexemplary embodiment, and is also applicable to exemplary embodimentsthat are appropriately changed, replaced, added, omitted, or the like.Further, a new exemplary embodiment can be implemented by combining therespective components explained in the above-described first exemplaryembodiment. Therefore, other exemplary embodiments are described below.

In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the contour ofprotrusion 15 of the terminal cover is formed in the shape in which theupper part of the circle is cut. However, the contour is not limited tothis shape. An essential requirement for protrusion 15 of the terminalcover is that a height of protrusion 15 is greater than a height ofcushion member 25. Any shape can be employed for the contour shape.

Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, description is given of anexample in which protrusion 15 is provided in terminal cover 10 for theconnection terminal for the power supply plug. However, an idea of thepresent disclosure can be applied to a terminal cover for another kindof connection terminal. For example, the protrusion or the cushionmember may be provided in terminal cover 61 for the connection terminal(the insertion port) for the memory card, or in terminal covers 62, 63,64 for the HDMI terminal, the USB terminal, the display terminal,respectively. Cushion member 25 can enhance airtightness when theterminal cover is closed and secure waterproof and dust-proofproperties. Moreover, protrusion 15 can reduce abrasion or damage ofcushion member 25 accompanied with the insertion/extraction of thememory card or the connection terminal.

In the first exemplary embodiment, rib 24 that is in close contact withcushion member 25 and seals the opening (insertion port 23) is formed infirst casing 110. However, rib 24 may be formed in a member other thanfirst casing 110. In other words, the rib may be formed in any member ifthe rib can be in close contact with cushion member 25 and seal theopening (insertion port 23).

In the first exemplary embodiment, the so-called detachable typecomputer is described as an example of the electronic device. However,the idea about the terminal cover of the present disclosure can beapplied to other kinds of electronic devices. For example, the idea ofthe present disclosure can be applied to an electronic device includingconnection terminals, such as a notebook type personal computer, atablet terminal, a smartphone, a cell phone, or a digital camera.

As above, the exemplary embodiments are described as the illustration ofthe technique in the present disclosure. For that purpose, the attacheddrawings and the detailed description are provided.

Therefore, the components mentioned in the attached drawings and thedetailed description may include not only components that are essentialfor solving the problems, but also components that are not essential forsolving the problems to illustrate the above-described technique.Accordingly, those nonessential components should not be immediatelyrecognized as essential just because those nonessential components arementioned in the attached drawings or the detailed description.

Further, since the aforementioned exemplary embodiments illustrate thetechnique in the present disclosure, various changes, replacements,additions, omissions, or the like can be made in the claims and theirequivalents.

The present disclosure is useful for an electronic device having aterminal cover that covers a connection terminal for connecting anexternal device, a power supply plug, or the like, and requiringwaterproof and dust-proof properties to the terminal cover (for example,a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a cellphone, or a digital camera).

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a casing havingan opening that houses a connection terminal inside; and a terminalcover that seals the opening such that the connection terminal is notexposed, wherein, the terminal cover includes a lid that seals theopening, the lid includes a protrusion and a cushion member, the cushionmember being mounted around the protrusion, and the protrusion comprisesmultiple recessed spaces separated by orthogonal walls.
 2. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion isprovided in a center of the lid.
 3. The electronic device according toclaim 1, wherein at least a part of a contour of the protrusion isformed in a rounded shape having no corners.
 4. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the connection terminal is a terminal forreceiving electric power from an outside of the electronic device. 5.The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the casing includesa housing part near the opening, the terminal cover includes a slidablemember, the slidable member does not include the lid, and the slidablemember includes a projection at a tip, the projection is inserted in thehousing part when terminal cover is closed.
 6. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is any one of anotebook type personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a cellphone, and a digital camera.
 7. A terminal cover that covers aconnection terminal of an electronic device such that the connectionterminal is not exposed, the terminal cover comprising: a lid that sealsan opening that houses the connection terminal, the opening being formedin the electronic device; wherein, the lid includes a protrusion and acushion member, the cushion member being mounted around the protrusionand having a surface lower than a surface of the protrusion, theprotrusion comprises multiple recessed spaces separated by orthogonalwalls.
 8. The terminal cover according to claim 7, wherein theprotrusion is provided in a center of the lid.
 9. The terminal coveraccording to claim 7, wherein at least a part of a contour of theprotrusion is formed in a rounded shape having no corners.
 10. Theterminal cover according to claim 7, wherein the connection terminal isa terminal for receiving electric power from an outside of theelectronic device.
 11. The terminal cover according to claim 7, whereinthe electronic device includes a housing part near the opening, theterminal cover includes a slidable member, and the slidable member doesnot include the lid, and the slidable member includes a projection at atip, the projection is inserted in the housing part in which terminalcover is closed.